Needless to say, the mood is not good and shock and befuddlement--not to mention utter humiliation permeates the headquarters of KTVU in Jack London Square.
Cox Communications, (corporate owner of Channel 2), is, according to my insider, demanding a full-fledged investigation into the matter. A senior exec was said to be "fuming." (No shit, Sherlock.)
Beyond that:
*The EP, (Executive Producer), on duty during the Noon News is being fingered by staffers as the point person behind the major embarrassment. I tried to contact the individual and was not successful--I'm not shocked. The person may be updating the resume.
*A local broadcast observer told me he doubts the ND will be fired. Someone else said "nobody" is immune from the soon-to-be internal investigation. This should be interesting.
*The GM, Tom Raponi, was unavailable for comment. (Shocking).
*Tori Campbell, the anchor who was unfortunate enough to read the circus act, may be sick by all of this, but is probably safe from being fired. On the other hand, did she not see what we all saw?--Hello!!
*This is an INDELIBLE event that cannot be erased. The ramifications are mighty. Right now the only good news is that it's a Friday night. Countless apologies will not cleanse the wound. It's serious business.
*Developing...
*Follow me on Twitter for the latest
"...she not see what we all saw?--Hello!!"
ReplyDeleteExactly. I couldn't contain myself. It was hi-larious.
Clearly, I'm not news reader material. :p
I wonder if they'll pull those promos featuring the coverage of 214 AND those promos where Frank goes, " we pride ourselves on getting it first AND right..."
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Tori kept reading it thinking if she stopped, she'd bring more attention to it ?
I wonder who the noon producer was. The producer I believe is still on that shift--the same one I worked under--is sharp as a tack and nothing gets by him. I'd be amazed if this happened on his watch, and saddened if he gets fired.
ReplyDeleteI also bet KTVU will have record viewers at 10 tonight because of this. Sad maybe, but true.
I think Tori should be saluted actually. When she got to Ho Li Fuk...she wisely pronounced it "fook". I'm guessing at that time, she started to feel strangely uncomfortable.
ReplyDeleteErr, if she believed it to be a real Asian name, which she apparently did, then that *is* how you'd pronounce it.
DeleteTori should be saluted?
DeleteNo reason to blame Tori, she read the lines she was given. But for christsake Christine, "Tori should be saluted," how do you come up with this stuff?
It's very simple,really. She should be saluted for not pronouncing "fuk" as it was, in this instance, meant to be pronounced(by the punker). There are, as you know, many Asian(Chinese,Korean, etc) words and names which when read by English speakers can be problematic,yes? think "suk"....I'm sure you know this is true. Imagine yourself, all poufed and powdered, tv lights a blaring, live cameras, and copy you've just been handed. You , of course, would always have such presence of mind, that you would have immediately known what was going on...or not.
DeleteApology was pretty classy at least - no excuses: http://www.ktvu.com/news/news/ktvu-apology-friday-noon-report/nYpSg/
ReplyDeleteA 1:45 minute mea culpa? Boring. Keep it simple, Stu Pid.
DeleteDown the Rabbit Hole they go...
ReplyDeleteIf what KTVU says is true, that they got that info from an official spokesperson at NTSB, then this is a big rabbit hole.
I hope they got punked by some Howard Stern 'baba booey' fanatic and that's that. It's happened to the best of them in extreme sensitive situations (think Peter Jennings and O.J.).
This is unfortunate and I'm skeptical on many levels. The focus ought to be on why the Army was first on scene and not local responders, why the FBI then immediately interviewed all passengers before they left the airport WHETHER THEY WERE INJURED OR NOT? Reports about what the flight recorder says do not match eyewitness testimony from the ground. When the plane was 14,000 ft., did it descend twice as fast as normal and did an early warning system that should have gone off some 45 seconds before landing actually only went off at about 7 seconds.
One question to all, has anyone seen an interview of any passengers? Besides the one with the little boy who got pulled in mid sentence by police and some woman of an apparent official capacity. I understand media was sent out to the hospitals, but they were not allowed to interview the passengers. If so, Why?
Yeah, I saw a second gunman in the bushes seconds before the plane landed. Also, if you study the video, you can see a UFO rising from the smoke and flying back to Hangar 17. Also, in some shots the fin of the Loch Ness Monster is visible.
DeleteAnd Elvis was seen stumbling out the plane. Next to Marilyn Monroe and John Wilkes Booth.
And the FBI interviewed everyone because they were not cleared through customs, dummy. For the vast majority the "interview" probably consisted of identification, purpose of your visit, contact address, etc. Yes, I've seen interviews with some passengers. Many others requested anonymity because Asian culture often finds our microphone-in-the-face tactics unpleasant. Also, most of them did not speak English. Those who did were interviewed. In fact, KTVU was bragging they were the first to interview them. They're probably not bragging too much right now down at JL Square, however.
Oh, and the plane was really an advanced spaceship from another world. The Truth Is Out There.
LOL This is the best Reply I've read in a long time! HAHAH
DeleteHa ha! 8:17, you crack me up!!!
DeleteNo, its just another troll shilling for the unthinking morons who fill newsroom's these days.
DeleteI bet you believe the official story that Micheal Hastings died accidentally.
Every question I asked at 8:17pm are questions the Media ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ASKING, but are not.
Why do you think the mainstream influence of news has become virtually nil these days and alternative media is taking over.
BTW,
OFFICIALLY, THE NTSB HAS APOLOGIZED FOR THE MIX-UP, BLAMING A SUMMER INTERN FOR THE FALSE NAMES OF THE PILOTS.
So, there we have it. I'm not buying it from the NTSB on its surface but KNTV does have some cover with an official response from Washington.
But hey, nothing to see sheep, move along. Pilot error and silly summer interns playing jokes. that is all.
Youre a knuckledragging moron to believe any official story these days.
Didn't realize it was the FBI who performed customs service at SFO. Thanks for clarifying that.
DeleteThe Chronicle reports this morning two United Pilots that were circling above, called into the control tower to mention they could see survivors milling about who needed help. But help didn't come from local responders for at least a half-hour after the crash and I guess mum is the word on how the Army was there first.
No clear answer is coming from the SF Fire department chief on the slow response. But the fact that the Army and FBI were there first is telling and the fact they were not in rescue mode upon their arrival also telling. Let's not forget the evacuation order from the pilots did not come immediately either.
But hey sheep, go back to sleep. Nothing to see here, move along...
I heard a radio interview the other day (might have been on KSFO Morning Show) that the passengers were calling 911 on their cell phones, which routed to CHP. One set of calls went to the San Mateo CHP dispatcher and another set of calls went to the San Francisco CHP dispatcher. Each dispatcher follow their local protocols and dispatched ambulances from their hospitals.
DeleteBottom line is that separate agencies dispatched without knowing that another had done so. Also, there was a separated section of the plane that was a quarter-mile away and obscured by all the smoke and foam. Emergency response thought that they were at the only scene, and didn't see the other section further away.
That's what I heard on the radio, anyway.
I don't know about all that. What I do know is that Sum Ting Wong.
DeleteShe's a fool. "Saluted?" This must be in jest.
ReplyDeleteNTSB did confirm it. No excuse, but at least explains how it got on the air:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ntsb.gov/news/2013/130712.html
An NTSB "intern" is hardly a confirmation. When you check a source on a news story, you generally check their title and position at the organization. Can you imagine the phone call?
Delete"Okay, can you confirm the spelling and pronunciation of the names of these pilots?"
"Yeah, sure okay. Capt. Som Ting Wong"...heh heh heh...
All the heads in charge of that newscast should be applying for unemployment, while Tory, as unfortunate as it may seem...head off on a long, extended vacation until the worst blows over. This has gone viral. Just wait till the late night comics get a hold of this...
We were told it was a summer intern. How do we really know?
DeleteSummer interns who get gigs in D.C. aren't likely to jeopardize their entire working future on such a stunt. Not really buying it just yet. Not totally buying the pilot error narrative either.
What happened...? What's all the fuss about with KTVU and why is someone going to be fired Rich?
ReplyDeleteGoogle is your friend, friend.
Delete...or, in this case, Rich's Blog. Read on down the threads.
DeleteWasn't this Janice Gin's last day as the forced out EP? Did she leave a gift?
ReplyDeleteShe did leave a gift... her gift was leaving. A gift that everyone that had to work around her will cherish for years to come!
DeleteWow. Odd coincidence...July 12 was the announced date...
Deletehttp://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/68738/ktvu-associate-news-director-janice-gin-leaving
Maybe Janice made the phone call, saying she was from the NTSB. Then she laughed her ass off and said, "So long, suckers."
DeleteIt's a major faux pas, but KTVU will always be the sentimental favorite for local news. They will recover from this in fairly short order.
ReplyDeleteThere is a wide spot in hell for Dragonbreath Gin. May she pursue other careers in torture, may the news gods shine light upon brave souls in local broadcasting.
ReplyDeleteIt would be more helpful if you explained the "chain". How an item makes it onto the teleprompter that is read on the air. How many eyes see it before it airs? Does the on air person read it cold? That would be more informative than just what you posted.
ReplyDeleteThere is no one way. It depends how soon before air it comes over, or if it comes after they're on the air. Sometimes a writer does it, sometimes the producer, sometimes an EP (though that's rarest in my experience) and sometimes the anchor just wings it, though obviously that didn't happen if a full-screen graphic was prepared.
DeleteYes. There have been a whole lot of passenger interviews. All week long. On many networks. And ones that were able to speak English as well.
ReplyDeletePlease spare all the sanctimonious outrage.
ReplyDeleteThis was the case of an idiotic, horrible taste, terrible judgment, attempt at humor gone entirely wrong.
No one can defend it but please spare me all this indignation and self-righteous outrage.
Agreed! Get A Grip Frisco!! This will be forgotten after the Zim Verdict or the birth of the Royal Baby.
DeleteYou must be from El Lay.
DeleteDennis Richmond would have caught this before reading the first name.
ReplyDeleteSo would Elaine Corral.
So would Pat McCormick and Bob Wilkins, for that matter! (Bob Wilkins reading the names with his usual poker face and deadpan delivery would have been funny, though).
It's now an international story:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2362486/Outrage-news-station-names-pilots-racially-insensitive-monikers.html
The Daily Mail, although UK-based, gets much of its audience from the United States, that's why much of their content -- particularly with celebrities -- is geared toward Americans.
DeleteIf another foreign publication published a non-wire story on this, then it's international.
An International Story? Gulp! Kim Jung Un is probably bustin a gut laughing at those wascally South Koreans and their antics. That settles it, after two or three weeks, the networks are gonna have to find a way to laugh this thing off. Hell, it wasn't malicious, just clumsy. Things happen, OK? Now they know how Paula Deen might have felt, being crucified by all these so very perfect people.
DeleteI miss Elaine Corral!!
ReplyDeleteYes and I miss George Watson.
DeleteGeorge Watson anchored the news at KSBW where I got my first t.v. job doing the weather. He was fun, funny, and very helpful. We had quite a team at that time with George and the fabulous, beautiful and brainy Suzanne Saunders as our anchors. I was saddened to learn later of his personal struggles and demise, and I miss him too. Dennis Richmond, referred to above as the bay area's "Walter Cronkite" always struck me as a man very much in love with himself, always bothered when his very able co-anchor, Barbara Simpson, got to read the lead. Am I wrong?
DeleteIf, as it admits,the NTSB confirmed the pilots' names, where is the fault of anyone at KTVU? I think it best not to get too distressed over it. Time will make it a legendary and very funny screw up.
Hi Cristine and Rich L. Re; Anchors reading the lead story on the air. Who decides which anchor is going to read what? Is the 'most popular' one of the moment automatically assigned to read the most grabbing storylines? Do anchors typically take turns, alternating back and forth keeping it democratic, or does some invisible Program Manager dictate everything as per phone call and email i.e. a whimsical dictatorship, accepted by all for now, and hopefully benevolent? Both of you are of that world known as The Media. So either of you may know.
DeleteSometimes anchors have it built into their contracts that they always get to read the lead...or get to read it more often than the co-anchor. Sometimes co-anchors agree to take turns...etc. I guess the implication is that if you are the one who reads the lead story, you are the more dominant of the pairing.
DeleteUh oh... Here's the CNN take...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cnn.com/2013/07/12/travel/asiana-offensive-names/index.html?hpt=hp_t2
But would Jessica Aguirre? Or would her mouth movements have been programmed in advance by her animators? Excuse me, her re-animators?
ReplyDeleteNice apology just aired by Frank Sommerville on the Ten O'Clock News. NTSB also owned up the mistake indicating the intern did confirm the names of the pilots for KTVU.
ReplyDeleteFrank Somerville issued what I thought was a very classy and well-worded apology tonight at 10.
ReplyDeleteHi, KTVU? This is KGO calling. Meet our friend Karma. Look out, though, she can be a real b*tch.
ReplyDeleteHoax aside, has was this such a "slow news day," that the names of the pilots was worthy of reporting, outside of South Korea?
ReplyDeleteI'll give KTVU high marks for it's coverage on Saturday, for several following the crash. However, all stations (TV/Radio) tend to go crazy with minutia on some stories.
KTVU's "news sense," seems to have gone from the sublime, to the ridiculous, on this one.
ktvu plans another apology....We so solly....
ReplyDeleteSeems to me that the News Director and General Manager should walk the plank ....
ReplyDeleteYou would think with all the clever people that work at KTVU, someone would have double checked those names. Probably went by many because they really did not pay attention in the rush to get it on air. We have seen it many times before when reporters race to report "news" without first checking and then double checking resulting in false information getting out.
ReplyDeleteIt is, as Rich points out, indelible now. The story has bounced over the world causing damage to KTVU. It cannot be undone, only corrected. And videos of Tori Campbell reading those names has been archived somewhere (YouTube?) and will be played. Cox wants heads to roll and some will starting with the person(s) who had direct supervision of the whole thing. It might very well result in some (needed) house cleaning and a chance to get rid of other people as well they were thinking of letting go.
Many of those clever people have gotten laid off, as the internet has squeezed the balls of conventional media. Even big newspapers today are little more than stenography services for hire.
DeleteMetaphor of the year! "the internet has squeezed the balls of conventional media". Sad but true.
DeleteIndeed twas a day that will live in infamy. Stay attentive though, I would be interested to know what REALLY happens to that dastardly poo poo head Intern. Yes, he or she is 'fired', but what happens in a couple of weeks? Sort of like the Obama Administration, where no one is ever truly punished, just temporarily reshuffled. Does this unnamed intern (does the intern even exist?) get a promotion to a comfy do-nuttin kind of job 'just like that?'. If that happens, it would indicate that someone wanted to smear the Anchorwoman's on air reputation, in a way that would be "indelible!"...And NO, my name is NOT Alex Jones.
ReplyDeleteThanks Christine for the info. Most of us viewers or listeners have no concept of the rush-rush high pressure on everyone in broadcasting. There is being a professional and all that should imply, then there's gracefully winging it in one's on style, a style that might work. A good business for the tight rope walker in some of us.
ReplyDeleteWhere did the names come from? Someone who works for another news station. If that person is ever identified, it will be embarrassing for somebody.
ReplyDelete"This is an INDELIBLE event that cannot be erased. The ramifications are mighty. Right now the only good news is that it's a Friday night. Countless apologies will not cleanse the wound. It's serious business."
ReplyDeleteHey Rich, enough already with your sanctimonious indignation. INDELIBLE event? What's that supposed to mean? The station is embarrassed, apologies will be made, some people will be fired, and eventually it will be forgotten. That's what it is.